Technical next steps

AirTech wrote:

n7axw wrote:After both gun powder and steam got ignored, I find myself wondering if the rakurai is fully functional. There is something missing, like a command that is not being received.

Or perhaps after so much time a computer broke down... something. It will be interesting to see how this is resolved in the story line.

Don

The other option could be a filter set deliberately coarse.
You don't want a rakurai shot hitting a volcano or a coal seam fire, for example, as that would raise questions you don't want asked. A full power blast furnace is not dissimilar to the markers for a volcanic vent, except a little smaller. A coal fired steam power plant looks similar to a geothermal power plant (or a smaller version of Yellowstone). A dumb AI would be more likely than a smart one as it would be less likely to eventually ask, why shoot.
An electrical power plant or a primitive radio installation would send signals totally different from natural events however and are certainly more likely to trigger a response (even if the response is to wake a brighter AI).

Yep. That would be another option... It's just that it seems to me that there is something capricious going on...maybe with malice aforethought by our favorote author.

Don

I would like to point out that so far all the Raukuri strikes that we have textev for, Alexandria and St. Khody's, have been human directed. Although we know that the OBS automatically defends itself there is no textev of other behaviour. Merlin has been acting as though it is controlled by an AI of some sort, very wisely I think, but there is no actual evidence of that. I think that the control for the Rakuri is in the basement of the Temple ad the the is the the controller for it.

Keith_w wrote:I would like to point out that so far all the Raukuri strikes that we have textev for, Alexandria and St. Khody's, have been human directed. Although we know that the OBS automatically defends itself there is no textev of other behaviour. Merlin has been acting as though it is controlled by an AI of some sort, very wisely I think, but there is no actual evidence of that. I think that the control for the Rakuri is in the basement of the Temple ad the the is the the controller for it.

Hi Keith,

Would you mind trying that last sentence again...it's a bit difficult to parse.

It was worth a chuckle though because it is the sort of thing that I can do!!

Don

n7axw wrote:

Keith_w wrote:I would like to point out that so far all the Raukuri strikes that we have textev for, Alexandria and St. Khody's, have been human directed. Although we know that the OBS automatically defends itself there is no textev of other behaviour. Merlin has been acting as though it is controlled by an AI of some sort, very wisely I think, but there is no actual evidence of that. I think that the control for the Rakuri is in the basement of the Temple and the key is the the controller for it.

Hi Keith,

Would you mind trying that last sentence again...it's a bit difficult to parse.

It was worth a chuckle though because it is the sort of thing that I can do!!

Don

There we go, all fixed. I guess I was just so enthused by the sharing idea, although I have had it for a long time. OTOH, maybe I should start proofreading what I write

You can only advance technology to a certain point before the necessity for electricity/electronics becomes a requirement to progress further. So I'm guessing that the filters for the Rakurai won't react to anything except electricity and possibly non natural radiated energy above a certain level (Delthak works for example ).

If I'm correct this means that you could theoretically build vehicles (sea/land/air) powered by diesel-engines or sterling-engines without fear of getting a rock dropped on your head.

I think we are going to see a lot of railways being constructed which will help transporting materials needed for the war effort.

After that I'm thinking that next generation steam-powered vehicles will come which uses refined oil as fuel and then graduating to piston-engines based on diesel (or equivalent)/sterling.

Also, I'm thinking that automatic pistols/rifles and machine-guns will be introduced within a few years.

In the same vein, the Haraldh class of ships will eventually get mechanical ballistic computers (air/steam powered) for aiming the guns.

Joat42 wrote:You can only advance technology to a certain point before the necessity for electricity/electronics becomes a requirement to progress further. So I'm guessing that the filters for the Rakurai won't react to anything except electricity and possibly non natural radiated energy above a certain level (Delthak works for example ).

If I'm correct this means that you could theoretically build vehicles (sea/land/air) powered by diesel-engines or sterling-engines without fear of getting a rock dropped on your head.

I think we are going to see a lot of railways being constructed which will help transporting materials needed for the war effort.

After that I'm thinking that next generation steam-powered vehicles will come which uses refined oil as fuel and then graduating to piston-engines based on diesel (or equivalent)/sterling.

Also, I'm thinking that automatic pistols/rifles and machine-guns will be introduced within a few years.

In the same vein, the Haraldh class of ships will eventually get mechanical ballistic computers (air/steam powered) for aiming the guns.

The problem is that steam engines can be explained away as a variation of wind (or water) power. Internal combustion engines cannot be explained away that way. So even if they don't trigger the Rakurai, such engines are very likely to trigger a purely human backlash. The Gang of Four and its supporters may already consider Charisians and their allies to all be heretics and the Reformers may disagree with the church, but if too many of the Reformers decide their leaders are openly defying the proscriptions, then Charis is in serious trouble.

looksbeforeheleaps wrote:The problem is that steam engines can be explained away as a variation of wind (or water) power. Internal combustion engines cannot be explained away that way. So even if they don't trigger the Rakurai, such engines are very likely to trigger a purely human backlash. The Gang of Four and its supporters may already consider Charisians and their allies to all be heretics and the Reformers may disagree with the church, but if too many of the Reformers decide their leaders are openly defying the proscriptions, then Charis is in serious trouble.

An internal combustion engine is just a cannon where you have a reciprocating piston instead of a shell and another source of energy than explosives.

I can see how Paityr could twist it like that.

Joat42 wrote:

looksbeforeheleaps wrote:The problem is that steam engines can be explained away as a variation of wind (or water) power. Internal combustion engines cannot be explained away that way. So even if they don't trigger the Rakurai, such engines are very likely to trigger a purely human backlash. The Gang of Four and its supporters may already consider Charisians and their allies to all be heretics and the Reformers may disagree with the church, but if too many of the Reformers decide their leaders are openly defying the proscriptions, then Charis is in serious trouble.

An internal combustion engine is just a cannon where you have a reciprocating piston instead of a shell and another source of energy than explosives.

I can see how Paityr could twist it like that.

Actually the most dramatic break with the proscriptions isn't steam, it's gunpowder. Talk about something outside the limit of wind, water and muscle! And the church approved it!

Don

n7axw wrote:Actually the most dramatic break with the proscriptions isn't steam, it's gunpowder. Talk about something outside the limit of wind, water and muscle! And the church approved it!

Don

I sometimes think there was a second PICA with a very, very light touch who got behind that bit of bribery out of Harchong.

JeffEngel wrote:

n7axw wrote:Actually the most dramatic break with the proscriptions isn't steam, it's gunpowder. Talk about something outside the limit of wind, water and muscle! And the church approved it!

Don

I sometimes think there was a second PICA with a very, very light touch who got behind that bit of bribery out of Harchong.

I agree. If gunpowder didn't waken the Rakurai, it does call into question the thought they are on automatics.

Don