Topic Actions

Topic Search

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 47 guests

SNARC Swarm on the OBS

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
SNARC Swarm on the OBS
Post by TheOneLogician   » Mon Sep 28, 2015 4:53 pm

TheOneLogician
Ensign

Posts: 12
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2015 1:10 am

I was just re-reading OAR, and I noticed that Merlin sent a couple of SNARCs to investigate the OBS, but they got blown out of existence by the laser systems installed on the OBS. But nothing down in the Temple activated. So, if the OBS is completely automated and self-sufficient, doesn't that seem like nothing short of actually destroying it would awaken the "thing" under the temple?
Top
Re: SNARC Swarm on the OBS
Post by Expert snuggler   » Mon Sep 28, 2015 5:30 pm

Expert snuggler
Captain of the List

Posts: 491
Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 2:15 am

Not if it has a watchdog/heartbeat/dead man switch that would wake up the Temple Basement Thing if the OBS ceases operation. That's the way a good engineer would design it even without the kind of paranoia the Langhorneites had.
Top
Re: SNARC Swarm on the OBS
Post by n7axw   » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:29 pm

n7axw
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 5997
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:54 pm
Location: Viborg, SD

There are only a limited number of snarcs. I doubt that Merlin would expend them that way.

Don
When any group seeks political power in God's name, both religion and politics are instantly corrupted.
Top
Re: SNARC Swarm on the OBS
Post by TheOneLogician   » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:14 am

TheOneLogician
Ensign

Posts: 12
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2015 1:10 am

n7axw wrote:There are only a limited number of snarcs. I doubt that Merlin would expend them that way.

Don



Why not make more? I think it was in LMF that RFC mentioned Owl frantically producing more. Why not just make a heck ton of them and say, "Be free!"
Top
Re: SNARC Swarm on the OBS
Post by Duckk   » Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:52 am

Duckk
Site Admin

Posts: 4200
Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:29 pm

That presumes that Owl has an unlimited supply of raw and potentially rare materials. Given how Merlin blew quite a bit on making a second PICA, and that SNARCs are nearly as advanced as it, manufacturing SNARCs ad infinitum strikes me as unlikely.
-------------------------
Shields at 50%, taunting at 100%! - Tom Pope
Top
Re: SNARC Swarm on the OBS
Post by n7axw   » Tue Sep 29, 2015 8:39 am

n7axw
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 5997
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:54 pm
Location: Viborg, SD

Duckk wrote:That presumes that Owl has an unlimited supply of raw and potentially rare materials. Given how Merlin blew quite a bit on making a second PICA, and that SNARCs are nearly as advanced as it, manufacturing SNARCs ad infinitum strikes me as unlikely.


This was my point. There are limits on all things, including what Owl can accomplish in the cave.

Don
When any group seeks political power in God's name, both religion and politics are instantly corrupted.
Top
Re: SNARC Swarm on the OBS
Post by doug941   » Tue Sep 29, 2015 10:41 am

doug941
Commander

Posts: 228
Joined: Sat May 03, 2014 6:21 pm

TheOneLogician wrote:I was just re-reading OAR, and I noticed that Merlin sent a couple of SNARCs to investigate the OBS, but they got blown out of existence by the laser systems installed on the OBS. But nothing down in the Temple activated. So, if the OBS is completely automated and self-sufficient, doesn't that seem like nothing short of actually destroying it would awaken the "thing" under the temple?


A couple of points you seem to be overlooking. What if some of the defensive platforms are just that? If you take out those without hitting the main bombardment platforms, you've just shot yourself in the foot, the ankle, the calf, etc. Second, a responsive against the recon SNARCs is probably low enough level to not contact the Temple machinery. Any shotgun style attack strong enough to work would result in a message of "Hey boss, what do I do now" if nothing else. And at this point anything that wakes up the Temple is to be avoided.
Top

Return to Safehold