OBS Triggers?

Keith_w wrote:

SWM wrote:Is there textev for the OBS being set to either autonomous or manual control? /quote
No, in fact Merlin has NO idea what the OBS might be designed to do. This is not the original OBS that destroyed Alexandria. The OBS was rebuilt, apparently after the War of the Fallen. So Merlin has no idea what it's capabilities are, who built it, or why they built it.

All Merlin knows is that it is clearly a kinetic weapon launcher, it has six launch cells loaded, and it has active sensors and defensive systems which are still working. He knows what the original OBS was capable of. he knows that it is possible to design such a system to be autonomous, to detect various conditions and fire automatically. And he knows that there is some strong power source under the Temple.

Given all that, Merlin must assume the worst--that the system is intended to detect certain violations of the Proscriptions and either fire autonomously or to wake something under the Temple. Either result could cause total failure of his mission. Merlin has to assume this worst case because if he assumes otherwise incorrectly, he loses. Merlin will not do anything which might wake the OBS and/or whatever is under the Temple.

I know all that - that was the point of my question to Harold.. we don't know that it has an auto launch mode. Also, I don't remember reading that it had 6 loaded cells. I do remember that it blew Owl's snark away when it got too close.

Keith_w wrote:

SWM wrote:By the way, please be careful about unmarked spoilers.

If you are talking to me, I marked it as a possible spoiler in the title.

SWM wrote:As for the 6 cells, the text does state that there are 6 filled weapon cells. I believe it is in the section where Merlin is in space, taking a look at the OBS himself. I don't recall where exactly that is, though. I wish I had the e-book version to do quick search, but someone else can find it, I'm sure.

Probably would have been just a bit of a problem for their own operations if it had gone around shooting the “angels” in the ass because of their emissions, he thought mordantly. So the damned thing almost certainly is waiting to kill the first sign of emerging technology outside the Jwo-jeng parameters. Which doesn’t mean it couldn’t be used for something else if those damned power sources hiding in the Temple told it to. And it’s got six loaded cells, each capable of covering half a continent at need, by Owl’s best estimate. Not good. Not good at all.

WeberFan wrote:

SWM wrote:As for the 6 cells, the text does state that there are 6 filled weapon cells. I believe it is in the section where Merlin is in space, taking a look at the OBS himself. I don't recall where exactly that is, though. I wish I had the e-book version to do quick search, but someone else can find it, I'm sure.

Off Armageddon Reef --> August, Year of God 890 --> VII. Tellesberg and Styvyn Mountains, Kingdom of Charis, Armageddon Reef --> A bit more than 3/4 of the way through the chapter:

Probably would have been just a bit of a problem for their own operations if it had gone around shooting the “angels” in the ass because of their emissions, he thought mordantly. So the damned thing almost certainly is waiting to kill the first sign of emerging technology outside the Jwo-jeng parameters. Which doesn’t mean it couldn’t be used for something else if those damned power sources hiding in the Temple told it to. And it’s got six loaded cells, each capable of covering half a continent at need, by Owl’s best estimate. Not good. Not good at all.

I find this thread fascinating for the speculation... We (well, ME at least) have NO IDEA what the trigger(s) might be, if they're manual or automatic, or even if they're even active! RFC has (IMHO) done a great job "keeping his options open." I know that there are scores of trigger scenarios that run through my brain every time I reread the series (I'm probably up to iteration 5 or 6 currently).

Keith_w wrote:

And it’s got six loaded cells, each capable of covering half a continent at need, by Owl’s best estimate.

What does "covering half a continent at need" does that mean each cell can dump enough rocks to kill 1/2 a continent, the way a can of paint covers a wall, or does it mean that the area of responsibility for each cell can be 1/2 of a continent, the way that a sniper would cover an area? And yes, I recognize the truth of what SWM said, we have practically no information about the OBS save what the quote above says and the knowledge of what was done to Alexandria.

Keith_w wrote:What does "covering half a continent at need" does that mean each cell can dump enough rocks to kill 1/2 a continent, the way a can of paint covers a wall, or does it mean that the area of responsibility for each cell can be 1/2 of a continent, the way that a sniper would cover an area? And yes, I recognize the truth of what SWM said, we have practically no information about the OBS save what the quote above says and the knowledge of what was done to Alexandria.

SWM wrote:

Keith_w wrote:What does "covering half a continent at need" does that mean each cell can dump enough rocks to kill 1/2 a continent, the way a can of paint covers a wall, or does it mean that the area of responsibility for each cell can be 1/2 of a continent, the way that a sniper would cover an area? And yes, I recognize the truth of what SWM said, we have practically no information about the OBS save what the quote above says and the knowledge of what was done to Alexandria.

An interesting question. I have assumed it meant destroy half a continent. I think that is the most reasonable interpretation, especially given the level of devastation caused by the original OBS with 3 waves (which most past posters have assumed means 3 cells). I can't completely rule out your alternative, though.

Weird Harold wrote:

Astelon wrote:As far as I am aware there is no statement from the author about what exact thresholds would trigger the OBS, or even that it is on automatic and will fire without specific instructions. The concern comes from Merlin, probably because it would have been the smart way to design the system. ...

Merlin's concern stems from the consequences of being wrong. The OBS CAN be set for autonomous, automatic triggering. Assuming that it is configured any less than fully autonomous and being wrong means total failure of Merlin's mission.

Some things, like electricity, which are explicitly banned by the Proscriptions have to be assumed to be trigger technologies. (Note "Electricity" and "Electronics" are not synonymous in this case. All of Merlin's, the Archangels, and OWL's electronics combined would be drowned out by the RF/EM emmissions of a single megawatt power station and one mile transmission line. )

Larry wrote:Meh I hate assumptions. Head down to the same island where he tested the steam engines and configure the remote modules to simulate telegraph offices. if it goes boom you know, if not then configure them as radio transmitters in the walkie-talkie range of power, then .....In short find the trigger point, because you're walking on egg shells until you do. If nothing else you'll get the command frequencies and traffic encryption characteristics of the OBS platforms out of the exercise. Taking out the OBS should be job one. Scary dude under temple is meaningless if OBS is gone.

Larry

SWM wrote:Did you read the FAQ?

Merlin WILL NOT do that, because of the danger that he loses instantly. Merlin is trying to save the entire human race. But if the OBS wakes something up under the Temple, Merlin loses. There would be no second chance. Testing whether the OBS will trigger on electrical equipment is gambling with the future of the entire human race.

Merlin does not need electricity to defeat the CoG. He does not need to introduce electricity until he is certain that the OBS and whatever is under the Temple are neutralized. Merlin will not experiment with electricity. He is not going to roll the dice with the fate of humanity on a single toss.